Rural women in Togo and Senegal advocate for land rights and climate justice

In Togo, rural women in the Kloto 3 commune are calling for the formal recognition and securing of their land rights. During a celebration of the International Day of Rural Women, organizers noted that while women constitute over 60% of the agricultural workforce, fewer than 30% own land in their own names. Representatives have requested that traditional authorities facilitate land allocation to female cooperatives and that the municipal council reserve 3% of communal land for such organizations.

In Senegal, women held a march to demand climate justice and concrete responses to the environmental crisis. The mobilization, organized by the association ‘Vacances Vertes’, highlighted how climate change exacerbates poverty and social inequalities, particularly for women. Participants called for increased funding, energy transition support, and protection for vulnerable populations ahead of COP31.

Additionally, in Tambacounda, Senegal, regional stakeholders are pushing for inclusive territorial ownership of the national energy transition. Efforts are underway to align the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with local realities, addressing critical energy access issues in rural villages through improved solar mini-grids and community dialogue.